Page 97 of Rescued Faith

Penny hopped out of the truck. “I’m here. Let him go.” She came around to the front of the truck and stood in front of the headlights with one hand on her hip and the other holding her Smith & Wesson, pointed at the ground. She wore a fancy red dress that showed off her toned shoulders and had a slit that stopped midthigh. Her hair was kind of wild and messy as it tossed on the wind. The combat boots on her feet made Bryce smile.

She was gorgeous and she was fierce.

And he was head over heels in love with this woman.

“Show me Emma and we have a deal.” Sosa’s voice was cold and calculating.

Penny moved to the passenger side, pulled the person out of the seat, and guided them out of the truck. They stood right outside the door. It was definitely a woman in

an orange jumpsuit, but the hood still covered her head. Handcuffs dangled from her wrists. Both women stayed there to the side, standing in the shadow of the truck.

The hood was a smart move. The female prisoner was probably a decoy. Maybe Olivia?

“Good to see you, Pen,” Bryce called over. She must have a plan of some sort. Maybe if he could converse a little she’d let him in on it.

“You too.” She winked at him.

A wink? That’s it? What did that mean?

He’d have to try again. “Heard you had an eventful ball. Fireworks and all. Everyone o?—”

“Enough! Emma?” Sosa called out. “Are you okay?”

“Alonzo?” The hooded woman stepped forward.

What?

The voice under the hood was muffled, tentative, but it sure sounded like the woman from the club.

No…she wouldn’t have.

Penny yanked off the hood.

ItwasEmma Kemper. Curly brown hair. Glasses.

Bryce strained against Gomez’s hold on his arm. “You broke Emma out of jail? What are you thinking!”

Penny didn’t look at him. Her green eyes were laser focused on Sosa, her hand gripped firmly around Emma’s upper arm as she dragged her back into the headlights. “Let. Him. Go.”

“Not until you release her.” Sosa didn’t waiver.

“I came alone. Unlike you. How can I trust you’ll release Bryce?”

“Enough games!” Sosa yanked Bryce over toward him, but with his feet bound together, Bryce fell to the rocky ground. His shoulder took the brunt of it, hitting the ground in front of Sosa.

Everything else seemed to move in slow motion. Lights flooded from all directions. Someone screamed.

Emma lunged for Penny’s weapon. “Run, Alonzo!”

Gunshots rang out. Alonzo ducked and ran along the side of the car. Gomez hit the ground shooting. His body jerked asa bullet hit him in the chest. Then another. Police swarmed, blocking Penny and Emma from Bryce’s view. Another gunshot, somewhat muffled, sounded.

“Get out of the way!” Bryce yelled.

The uniforms moved in on Gomez, clearing the space between Bryce and the black truck. Penny leaned against the hood gasping, eyes closed. Emma stood in the headlights.

“Penny!”

At the sound of his voice calling her, Penny stood.

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